Is it possible to alloy coin silver to sterling silver with fine
silver? I know coin silver is 90%.
If possible, what are the ratios?
thanks
I do it all the time, add 1 part fine silver to 3 parts coin silver
and you have sterling. Just do the math. I bump up the fine silver a
touch to give me .950 because I prefer to err on the side of
generosity than on meanness. However, now I’m reading the comments by
Leonid Surpin and others to the effect that .950 is superior to work
with compared to standard .925 Sterling. And here I thought that I
was becoming more accomplished when I’m just using better metal.
Daniel
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Karen,
I’d pass on alloying coinage into sterling if I were you. Before
1964, American silver coinage was 90% fine silver, 10% copper. After
1964, the silver content is not even close to 90%. So don’t bother
with old coins with their high copper content.
Why not go to your local coin shop and buy 1 ounce fine silver
“rounds” or small bars, and alloy them yourself? Start with your fine
(pure) silver, and order some high-tech alloy for sterling that has
the properties you’re looking for, and alloy the sterling yourself in
your studio?
My students and I love United Precious Metals’ S57 NA alloy for
sterling. Far superior to traditional sterling (92.5% fine silver and
7.5% copper), in my opinion.
The math is dead easy: Throw the 1 oz. pure silver round on the
scale, it should be 31.1 gr. With your calculator, divide the weight
of the pure silver (31.1) by.925 ( 92.5%-amount of pure silver in
sterling)and the total comes to 33.6 gr.(sterling silver) Just add
your alloy to the pure silver until your scale reads 33.6, and you
have the correct proportions for your new “high tech” sterling! Easy!
Have fun!
Jay
I just assumed he was referring to pre-1964 junk silver. I have a
large sack of junk silver so when I need more sterling I go to the
coin store, buy the cheapest fine silver rounds they sell and alloy
the coins up to sterling. It gives good results
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